Door-securer.



PATENTED 00T. 4, 1904.

, 2 J 7 I I l ImentorS 525mm kf/im ttornegs No. '771,588l

J. JLTAYLOR & W. ERSKIN.

DooR SEGURER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 6, 1904.

N0 MODEL.

- Witnesses UNITED STATES Patented October 4, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. TAYLOR AND WILLIAM ERSK-IN, OF VAOO, KENTUCKY.

DOOR-SECURER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 77' 1,588, dated October 4, 1904.

Appuaion tied May a, 1904. serial No. 200,780. (No model.)

To all whom tun/ty concern.'

Be it known that we, JAMES A. TAYLOR and WILLIAM ERsKIN, citizens of the United States, residing at Waco, in thecounty of Madison and State of Kentucky, have i-nvented a new and useful Door-Securer, lof which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to door-securers; and it has for its object to provide a device of this class which shall be simple in construction, durable, and inexpensive, which shall be foldable into small compass to enable it to be conveniently carried, and which shall be adapted to be applied to doors with or without locks for the purpose of securing the same from the inside, thereby obstructing admission to the apartment into which the door leads.

With these and other ends in view, which will readily appear as the nature of the invention becomes better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts, which will be hereinafter fully described, aand particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has been illustrated a simple and preferred form of embodiment of the invention, it being understood, however, that no limitation is made to the structural details therein exhibited, but that the right is reserved to any changes, alterations, and modicationswhich may be resorted to within the scope of the invention and without departing from the spirit or sacrificing the efliciency of the same.

In said drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the improved-door-securer which constitutes the invention, showing the key, which also forms part of the invention, separate from the device. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view showing the device applied to a door in operative position. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional VView showing the device folded. Fig. tis a transverse sectional view taken on the line 4 4 in Fig. 3.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated by similar numerals of reference.

In the embodiment of the invention we avail ourselv es of a plurality of leaves which are connected pivotally at one end by means of a pin or pivot 1, said leaves, of whichl in the form of embodiment illustrated in the drawings three have been shown, being designated, respcctively, 2, 3, and 4. These leaves are of unequal length, the leaf 2 being the longest and the'leaf t the shortest, and each of said leaves is provided at the outer or free end thereof with a downward-extending flange, (designated, respectively, 5, 6, and 7 said ianges being serrated to forma plurality of teeth 8. It will be seen that when the leaves are folded together the flange 6 of the leaf 3 will overlap the end of the leaf 4, while the flange 5 of the leaf 2 will overlap the end of the leaf 3. The toothed flange 7 of the leaf 4 extends a short distance beyond the plane of the under side of the leaf, as will be seen. Each of the several leaves is provided with a plurality of transverse slots 8, which when the several leaves are folded together are in accurate alinement with each other. The leaf 2, which we shall refer to as the top or upper leaf in contradistinction to the leaf A, which is to be referred to as the bottom leaf, is provided with laterally-extending spaced teeth 9, which are in alinement with the slots 8 in the yseveral plates. The top plate 1 is also provided at its outer or free end with a pair of divergent prongs 10 10. The depending flanges of the several leave are preferably disposed slightly obliquely in order that the leaves may be opened or spread Aapart in one direction only, which has been indicated in the drawings by a dart 11. In order to positively prevent the said leaves from being opened or spread apart in the opposite direction, we prefer to provide the top leaf 2 at its edge with a depending stop 13. Thus by wedging together the depending flanges of the several leaves when the latter are folded together the device will be maintained in a folded or shut condition, thus enabling it to be conveniently carried in the pocket. One of the leaves of the device, preferably the middle one, is provided with an eye 14, with which is connected one end of a chain 15, the other end of which is suitably connected with what we term the key 16, which is used in connection with our device. Said key comprises a shank 17 and a cross-piece 13, provided on one side with a laterally-extending IOO flange 19 and on its opposite side with a laterally-extending resilient member 20, adapted to engage and to extend through the slots 8' in the several leaves composing the device when said leaves are folded together. The cross-piece 18 is also provided onthe side opposite to the flange 19 with a pair of depending teeth 21, adapted to engage the interspaces between the teeth 9 upon the upper leaf 2 of the device.

Thile the device'has been shown and illus-v trated as comprising three leaves, we would have it understood that a greater `or lesser number may be employed, the object of having a plurality of said leaves being to enable the device to be fitted to doors between the free edges of which and the adjacent jambs openings of various widths exist.

In operation the door is first shut, so as to ascertain approximately the space or distance between the free edge of the door and the adjacent jamb. One or more of the leaves of the device will be used, a sufficient number being always chosen to amply fill the space between the door and the jamb, the leaf or leaves not in use being swung down to an outof-the-way position. It is obvious that in some cases all the leaves may be required, and it is proposed to employ a sufficient number of leaves to meet any emergency. After selecting the proper number of leaves, including the top leaf, said leaves are placed against the jamb with the toothed flanges toward the jamb, into which by closing the door they will be forced by the wedging action of the free edge of the door against the plate or plates. The resilient member 2O of the key is now inserted into the slots 8 of the plates with the flange 19 of the cross-piece 18 as nearly as may be in engagement with the side of the door. The resiliency of the member 2O will enable this adjustment to be made very accurately, and the teeth 21, extending from the cross-piece 18, will at the same time engage the interspaces between the teeth 8 of the leaf 2, thereby serving to prevent displacement of the key.

If it shall be attempted to open the door when this improved door-securing device has been adjusted properly in position, the toothed flange of the leaf or member which is in engagement with the door-jamb will prevent the leaf or leaves from being displaced, while the flange 18 of the key will prevent the door from being opened.

In doors that open outward the position of the securing device may be reversed, the toothed flange of one of the leaves being caused to engage the free edge of the door, while the key will be so adjusted as to cause the flange 19 to abut upon the jamb, thereby holding the door securely from being opened.

When the improved door-securer is used in connection with doors having rim-knob locks,

the toothed flange of one of the leaves may be caused to engagethe bolt-mortise in the door-frame, thereby avoiding any possibility of marring the latter. When such is the case, the prongs or projections 10 will extend across the bolt-mortise and will thus when an attempt is made to open the door prevent the device from being tilted and loosen its hold upon the door-jamb.

This device is extremely simple and may be manufactured at a trifling expense, the material employed being left open to the selection of the manufacturer. The device occupies but little space and may be conveniently carried in the hand-bag or even in the pocket of a traveler, who by the use of this device previous to retiring' can insure himself against unwarranted intrusion.

Having thus described our invention, we claim- 1. In a device of the class described, a plurality of leaves pivotally connected and provided at their free outer ends with serrated flanges overhanging one another, said leaves being provided with transverse slots disposed in alinement with each other, in combination with a key comprising a shank havinga crosspiece provided on one side with a resilient member adapted to engage the slots in the several leaves and on the opposite side with a laterally-extending flange.

2. In a door-securing device of the class described, a plurality of leaves pivotally con nected together near one end and provided at their free ends with obliquely-disposed serrated flanges adapted to be wedged together to prevent the leaves from being opened or spread apart in more than-one direction, one of said leaves being provided with a depending stop.

3. In a door-securing device of the class described, a ,plurality of pivotally-connected, transversely-slotted leaves having toothed serrated flanges disposed at varying distances from the pivotal point, in combination with a locking device insertible through alining `slots in said plates and associated with a flange member.

1. In a door-securing device of the class described, a toothed or spurred member having transverse slots in combination with a key member including a cross-bar, a resilient member extending from one side of said cross-bar, and a flange member 4extending' from the op posite side of said cross-bar.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own we have hereto affixed our signatures in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES A. TAYLOR. WILLIAM ERSKIN.

Witnesses:

R. B. TERRILL, WESLEY WAYS.

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